Chapter 4: Time to Duel! Kei Takes a Risk
In the unforgiving city of Haiirosen, Kei Kaneshiro must prove himself as a man.
PREVIOUS: Chapter 3
NEXT: Chapter 5
Kei Kaneshiro faced the oncoming raptors with his bow drawn and ready to shoot. His brown horse stayed still, undaunted by the roars of the beastly reptiles. Akane was next to him on her own black charger, her bone bow in hand.
Closer...closer...NOW!
Kei loosed his arrows and hit a raptor right in the neck. But several more of the beasts remained, so he drew another arrow and shot it at another raptor. The arrow punched through the roof of its mouth, and the raptor coughed up blood.
Can't let up yet.
Kei shot each arrow with practiced skill, felling raptor after raptor. The storm of arrows he shot spooked the remaining beasts, but Kei didn't care; he shot the fleeing raptors in the back and they died as the life drained from them.
But then a second wave of raptors came charging in. Kei prepared another arrow, but Akane held up a hand.
"Allow me," Akane said. She drew an arrow from her quiver and pulled it back. The arrow glowed blue, suffused with magic.
Akane let it go and it flew at the raptors in a brilliant blur. It struck one raptor in the chest and exploded, blowing them all to big, bloody bits. Akane shot two more to take care of any stragglers, and the dinosaur attack was over before it began.
As the smell of burnt flesh pervaded the area, Kei and Akane rode away from the site of the carnage.
"Great improvement. You have potential to be a Tempest Archer," Akane said as she rode as close as possible to him.
"But I haven't done anything to get power. As good as I've gotten, I don't hold a candle to the Tempests," Kei answered.
"The right time will come. Just keep practicing; you'll find that none of your time has been wasted."
"I've just gotta say, thank you for instructing me. You've helped me so much."
"I'll be honest with you; I only did this 'cause I kinda like you. Something about you just makes me think I wouldn't rather be with anyone else, silly as it sounds. The archers? None have shared a bed with me yet."
Akane reached out and stroked Kei's arm. She ran her fingers down to Kei's legs.
"I'm certainly not complaining, but why me?" Kei asked.
"It's just that I appreciate a man who tries hard, you know?" Akane said.
"Again, thank you so much."
Kei and Akane rode past fields of cows and pigs, all contained by wooden fences and barbed wire. Several of the ranchers waved to Akane and called out to her. Akane waved back, as did Kei.
"Had you not stopped the raptors, everything and everyone here would be dino food," Akane said.
"Be honest -- you didn't need me."
"And if I wasn't here to back you up? You say you're not equal to the task?"
"No, no, it's just -"
"Listen. Don't sell yourself short. I don't want to hear any more self-pity, all right?"
"Right. My bad."
"I'll hold you to it."
After another hour's ride, Kei and Akane reached the walls of Haiirosen. The gray granite stood as a silent sentinel, never tiring, always protecting the city within. Tempest Archers stood watch on the roof, always vigilant. Fabric with a pattern of gray stripes -- the city's namesake, and the traditional symbol of the Isesaki family -- hung from the battlements, proudly declaring their love for the city and its people. And at the wooden gate were the Tempest Archers, on horseback as well as two foot soldiers with spears.
"Lady Akane! I take it the threat has been beaten?" the foot soldier asked as he opened the gates.
Akane dismounted, "It has -- and I have Kei here to thank for it. Come here."
Kei dismounted as well, then went next to Akane. "Is there anything you need?"
"Hold on a moment," Akane said. She turned to the foot soldier. "Can you take the horses to the stable?"
"Yes, Lady Akane," the soldier said.
"Also, take my weapons to my house." Akane handed over her bow and quiver to the soldier.
"Right!" the soldier said. The other soldier joined in to take Kei's horse in as well.
Now Akane focused her attention on Kei, but she didn't say anything; she only smiled sweetly. Akane wrapped her arms around Kei and kissed him on the lips with great passion. Kei returned the embrace, and Akane motioned Kei's hands to her rear end, then lifted one leg. Time seemed to stand still as all sorts of feelings welled up inside Kei. Once Akane was satisfied, she broke the embrace and walked toward the gate. She threw her cape forward to expose her while short-shorts. Kei stared at her ass as she walked away, and when Akane got through the gates, she cast a sultry glance at Kei.
But when Kei headed for the gate, the mounted archers blocked his path.
"Just who do you think you are?" an archer asked while drawing a short knife. To hammer home his anger, he dismounted.
"You saw it -- Lady Akane chose to give me her favor," Kei said.
Another archer dismounted and drew his knife.
"No, there's no way she'd want a chump like you."
"What'd you pull on her?"
Kei tensed up. "Come on, listen to yourselves. Lady Akane isn't some helpless little girl."
The archers surrounded him, all with knives drawn.
"Shut your stupid mouth. You're a dumbass errand boy who thinks he's a warrior. How about we make it clear just where you stand?" an archer said.
Kei froze up, and an archer punched him in the face. The rest of them joined in the beatdown, then they took their knives and stabbed him all over. He crumpled to the ground with blood pouring from every wound. An archer knelt beside him and put a knife to his neck.
"The only reason you're not dead is because I don't wanna make the boss lady mad. But get this through your head: you are not and will never be one of us, no matter how much you feel up Lady Akane. You got that?" the archer said.
"I...I got that..." Kei forced out.
"Good. Now think about how worthless you are." The archer kicked Kei, then he entered the gates with his comrades, leaving Kei on the ground in pain.
#
Kei was brought to an infirmary on a stretcher. To help with his treatment, his clothes had been removed. There were only two other patients, both with broken bones. Due to all the blood loss, Kei was dazed.
A blurry figure approached him and turned him on his back. The figure came into focus, and he saw that it was Akane. Her hands glowed blue, showing the sheer magical energy coursing through them. Akane laid her hands on Kei's wounds, and they all closed up, none the worse for wear. There wasn't a single scar anywhere -- he was good as new. Still, he felt weak due to all the blood loss from before.
"You've saved me once again. I was sure I was done for," Kei said.
"Guess you've got good luck, then," Akane answered.
"By the way, the archers at the gate did this to me shortly after you left," Kei said.
"So what? Deal with it," was Akane's answer.
"'Deal with it?' They almost killed me!" Kei said.
"Stop whining like a little boy. Go out there and handle your business," Akane said. Her point made, she got up.
"That's it? You're not gonna do anything?" Kei said, but Akane ignored him and made her way out.
Guess it's up to me. There's only one course of action I can take; maybe then Lady Akane will find me worthy of her hand in marriage, Kei thought.
His mission now clear, he got off of the bedding.
#
He acquired a new set of clothes from an old man who lost his son on a dino hunt a few years back, but Kei was on the prowl for a different kind of game, a Tempest Archer named Akira Horii.
Akira was the one who had gotten in his face first. He directed the other archers as they hurt and humiliated Kei. But Akira was strong and popular, while Kei was the hapless errand boy who was weak from losing so much blood. Akane's healing magic had fixed his wounds, but it didn't restore his lost blood. If he was going to take Akira on, he would need help.
But jumping Akira was out of the question -- he had to beat Akira by himself if this were to count. Blindsiding him was out of the question too; if Kei was to prove his worth, he had to do it in a formal duel.
Kei walked the streets of Haiirosen. The whole city smelled of beef as residents cooked meals in their homes. Herdsmen atop their horses led cattle to the many slaughterhouses scattered throughout town. Gray-striped cloth hung not only from the city walls, but also many of the homes and shops. Lampposts lined the streets, unlit as it was currently the light season. But Kei was drawn by the massive keep on the southern side of the city, festooned with gray-striped cloth like so much else in this place. The sloped and ridged roofs piled high acted as a testament to the Isesaki family's power; Isesaki Castle dwarfed the Onodera Estate, and Kei thought it appropriate, for no one in VENOM stood any chance against Akane.
Someday, you'll be mine, Kei thought.
"You know you can forget about that," a man said, walking up to Kei. "And I don't even get why so many guys want her. She's in her thirties; you're not gonna get kids out of her."
Kei turned to the young man. "What did you say?"
"Come on, I'm just telling you the truth."
"How's this for truth?"
Kei punched the man in the face a bunch of times, enough to knock him down. As the man lay bleeding on the ground, Kei walked away. No one so much as reprimanded him for what he did.
Kei made his way to the residential quarter. The houses were packed somewhat close together, but they looked nicer than the ones in Gaikyo. He spotted the house with the nameplate Umezawa and knocked. Naoto Umezawa had always helped Kei out, teaching him to condition his body and to fight. If he could rely on anyone in this dangerous town, it was him.
"Hey, Naoto, I need a little help," Kei said.
"Sure thing. Come in," a muffled male voice said.
Kei slid the door open and stepped in. A blast of cool air hit him like a rampaging horse, giving him relief from the hot sun. He made his way to the house's central parlor, where a smooth rectangular stone sat. Inscribed on the sides was a spell in the magical language; Naoto had told him a while back that it said to cool the room when the sun is out and light the room when the sky goes dark. A brown stain decorated the top of the stone, for that was where Naoto had sacrificed his infant son to give the stone its awesome power.
Naoto's bow and gray-striped bandana were hung up on his wall, and his riding boots were in the corner.
"Where'd the wife go?" Kei asked.
"Looking for another stone. Apparently, meat keeps a lot longer when it's really cold," Naoto answered.
"They figured that out in Gaikyo ages ago."
"Only we don't need little girls to do it for us. But I take it you're not here to discuss meat preservation."
"Yeah, I've got a bit of a problem."
Naoto guided Kei to the stone and sat opposite from him. Neither of them minded the cold air that emanated from it. Kei explained what happened at the gate, and his intention to duel Akira.
"That is a problem. Akira is way better than you at hand-to-hand," Naoto said.
"Is there anything I can use? Some kind of charm to enhance my strength or something?" Kei asked.
"You could make one, but then you'd have to sacrifice a kid. Or a young virgin daughter, at least. I do recall the Chief Witch of Gaikyo berating you about such when we were training," Naoto answered.
"I don't know if I want to go back home just to fetch a kid. I mean, what if the Chief Witch traps me there? Isn't there some other way?" Kei said.
"Not that I know of -- besides being a female and bowing to Vesta, I mean."
"Up the creek without a paddle, I guess." Kei couldn't just borrow a charm or a stone; such items could only be used by an individual and their household.
"Well, maybe you don't need a charm. Beat Akira with your own two hands -- it's the more honorable option anyway," Naoto said.
"Sounds like a bunch of trouble," Kei asked.
"You want to show you're strong, right?"
"I do want to beat him down in front of everyone. If I have to be a little unfair, I will be."
"Then get him from behind."
"You know I can't do that. It's gotta be in front of everyone; I have to make him look weak."
"I thought you wanted to be unfair. Why do you care so much about it being a duel?"
"Because...well, I wanna prove myself to Lady Akane."
Naoto smiled. "I see what this is about. Did Akira get with her?"
"No -- I did. Sort of. She kissed me after we got back from our outing. Akira got jealous, and that was why I got stabbed," Kei answered.
"Sounds great, except for the stabbing part. What's the problem?"
"After all that, she healed me up. But when I told her what happened, it was like she didn't care. She told me to 'handle it,' then she walked away like she wasn't acting lovey-dovey when we were out. I just want her to see that I'm tough."
"That is pretty strange, but I think I get it now. Tell you what -- you can spar with me to prepare. But tell me one thing: have you challenged Akira yet?"
"I haven't."
"So do that first. Name the time and place, and word will spread."
"That I can do. Thanks!"
Kei left Naoto's house, confident that he could fulfill the task he set out for himself.
#
Kei issued his challenge right on the main street. The battle was to take place at Ritual Square on the twentieth hour, and Akira was only too happy to accept. But as of right now, it was only the tenth hour.
Which meant Kei had to prepare in a hurry.
Kei was no amateur; he knew the basics of hand-to-hand combat. But now he had to go into the battle with only victory in mind, so he spent hours with Naoto exchanging blows, practicing moves, and fighting past the weakness caused by his earlier blood loss. Everything had to become muscle memory. ("You think, you die," Naoto always said.) Kei spent the entire day honing his strength and making sure he knew what to do no matter what moves Akira threw at him.
No substitute for victory, Kei thought to himself with every blow and slam he endured at Naoto's hands.
Hours seemed like days as Kei practiced, only taking short breaks to eat and drink before getting back into his regimen.
And now, after hours upon hours of bruises and sores, the moment of truth had come.
A crowd gathered around Ritual Square as Kei and Akira stared each other down on opposite ends of the area. The castle loomed over the square, and Akane mounted a staircase that was rolled out for this occasion. Tempest Archers, including Naoto, surrounded the square to prevent anything underhanded from happening. The crowd sat on chairs, boxes, and other things brought out to give themselves a better view of the action. While the crowd itself wasn't huge, it was dense.
Akane went down the stairs and took center stage, dressed in a short kimono decorated with gray stripes and eye patterns. She carried a large wooden cone with a magical stone inside the smaller opening that amplified sound. Like all such stones, it bore the stain of a baby's blood.
"My loyal subjects, welcome to the honor duel. On this day, Kei Kaneshiro, a mere manservant with pretensions of being a warrior, faces off against Akira Horii, one of my stalwart and brave Tempest Archers. Kei wishes to see if he deserves to be counted among our fair city's strongest. Should he win, he shall assume a position as a fighting man of Haiirosen. But should he lose, he will remain in his low and shameful role, waiting hand and foot on his betters!"
The crowd called out to Akane.
"Horii should kill him!"
"Kaneshiro should burn!"
"Tempest Archers forever!"
A chorus of shouts rang out calling for Kei to be tortured.
"As much as I enjoy carnage, the combatants did not agree on a battle to the death. Victory will be by knockout or ring out," Akane said.
"Can we cut his throat afterward?" an archer asked.
"You may not. We will hold to the terms of the duel. Now, let us dedicate this battle to Lord Moloch," Akane said.
All chatter died down, and the square fell dead silent. Akane got on one knee and clasped her hands, then spoke a prayer in the magical tongue.
O great and powerful Moloch, we duel in honor of your boundless strength and limitless bounty. Lead us as we conquer our foes and pursue the endless indulgence to which we are entitled. Bless this fight, and bless our fair city. In your holy name.
"In your holy name!" the crowd shouted in response, also in the magical tongue. Akane got up, then returned to her chair.
"Combatants, enter the ring!" Akane shouted, switching back to the common tongue. Kei and Akira did as they were ordered.
"Now, fight!"
Kei charged in and grappled Akira. The two men tussled, each trying to throw the other. Kei got Akira in a headlock, but Akira punched Kei in the stomach and dragged him to the ground. Kei struggled against Akira on the grass, desperate to break the archer's hold. After some struggle, Kei got his right arm loose and struck Akira across the face. The shock of the sudden attack made Akira loosen his grip for just a moment, giving Kei the opening he needed to break free.
Both combatants were now back on their feet. Kei moved in first with a lunge, and Akira countered with a kick. Undeterred, Kei hit Akira with an uppercut right to the chin. Akira stumbled backwards and Kei went in for the attack.
Only for Akira to get him right in the face.
Now it was Kei's turn to stumble. Before Kei could reorient himself, Akira laid into him with a barrage of body blows, then grabbed his neck and kneed him in the face. Akira followed up with a solid blow to the side of Kei's head, and Kei hit the grass, unconscious.
"The winner: Akira Horii!" Akane yelled. She got down from her chair and kissed him on the cheek, then raised up his hand to the thunderous applause of the crowd. After basking in the adulation, Akira walked over to Kei's fallen form and spat on him, then kicked him a couple of times. The crowd laughed.
"Get this trash out of my sight," Akane said.
Two Tempest Archers rushed to the square, grabbed Kei by the arms and legs, and tossed him onto a cart like a useless piece of furniture. The cart was then pulled away.
And this time, Akane did not visit him in the infirmary.
#
Kei found himself floating in a purple haze. No ground beneath his feet, no sky above him, just an unending cloud of purple.
"Um, is anyone there?" Kei asked.
"YES," a deep voice answered.
A fuzzy gray mass appeared, then it formed into the shape of a gigantic gray bull. Its horns were as tall as a man, and its face carried a stern expression. Its broad chest spanned a huge space that seemed to have no end; Kei was as big to the bull as a songbird was to Kei. Seven indentations marked the bull's chest -- four on top, two in the middle, and one on the bottom, but beyond that, Kei couldn't get much of a clear view.
"Who..."
"You speak to Moloch. I have come to offer you deliverance."
"From what?"
"Truly, you are a fool. You were defeated, and thus you remain in a position of ignominy."
"But if I'm so pathetic, why have you appeared to me? Why haven't you appeared to Akira?"
"You dare to question my judgment, mortal? Perhaps you do not deserve my boon after all."
"No, I apologize for my outburst. What do you offer?"
"A chance to become a chosen warrior of mine, second only to Akane Isesaki herself."
Anticipation rushed through Kei. "What would you have me do, Lord Moloch?"
The gigantic god thought for a moment, then spoke. "At the sound of Isesaki's name, you grew excited in the way men do when faced with beautiful women. Perhaps she occupies your thoughts regularly."
"She does, Lord Moloch. May I ask you something?"
"You may."
"Why did Akane act like she loved me, then become so cold when we returned to the city? She even kissed me!"
"This answer is simple: she wished to maximize her archers' anger toward you so that she could see your real power. She harbors no affection for you, merely a desire to test the mettle of her men."
"What? It was all a lie?"
"It was, but it need not remain so. With my blessings bestowed upon you, her contempt will turn to admiration."
"Then what must I do?"
"You must offer up your daughter, so that I may consume her."
"Daughter? You mean, Shiori's..."
"Shiori's daughter is a beautiful virgin girl, and a lower witch in service to VENOM. She is called Hinagiku Kaneshiro. Offer her up to me, and you will become a man of power."
Moloch's eyes lit up, and a faded image of a girl appeared before Kei. The girl wore her hair short, and she had on the sleeveless white blouse and black miniskirt of VENOM's lower witches. Three stripes -- red, green, blue -- adorned the skirt, and she held a wand in her hand.
She looks so much like her mother, Kei thought.
"Indeed she does, mortal." Moloch answered.
"You heard that?" Kei asked.
"I did," Moloch answered.
"But that aside, I know what I must do now," Kei said.
"I hope that you do. It is one thing to make claims in the abstract, and another thing to carry them out when faced with the reality. If you seek my gift, you must sacrifice this girl. There is no other way."
"I understand, Lord Moloch. I shall perform this task and take my place among the Tempest Archers."
"Then prove your worth to me with action."
Moloch and the purple haze disappeared, and Kei was back in the infirmary, lying on his back. But now he had a path out of his predicament -- one with divine approval.
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NEXT: Chapter 5